Overview
The Family Division accepts filings for Adoptions, Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), Paternity, Child Support, Dissolution of Marriage, Name Change, Annulment’s and Emancipation's.
Florida Family Law Handbook - Family Law Handbook
Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Provider list - As required by Florida Statute 61.21, and referenced in AO-2019-15-UFC - Adopting and Authorizing the Use of a Status Quo Temporary Order in Dissolution of Marriage and Paternity Actions, a list of approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers can be found at MyFLFamilies.com.
Family Law Forms
The Pro Se Self Help Unit, located at the Broward County Central Courthouse, Judicial Complex West Building, Domestic Violence Division, 201 SE 6th Street, 2nd Floor, Room: 02140, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 provides local and Florida Supreme Court approved Family Law Forms for a fee to those who choose to represent themselves or cannot afford an attorney. Forms for divorce, paternity, custody/visitation, stepparent adoption, custody by extended family and other various forms may be purchased between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Pro Se self-help staff does not provide legal advice. Nor can they advise what forms you should purchase.
The Florida Supreme Court offers free access to approved Family Law Forms.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER ON EVERY DOCUMENT YOU FILE WITH THE COURT.
IF YOU REQUIRE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT AN ATTORNEY.
Child Support Matters
Although child support matters are filed in the Family Law Division, any inquiries regarding payment or non-payment of support should be directed to the Child Support Division.
Divorce Records
Copies of a final judgment of dissolution of marriage filed in Broward County are available from the Broward County Records Division. You may obtain the Official Records book and page number by performing an Online Official Records Search.
Per Supreme Court order, images of these documents are not available online if they were filed after 2002. If your divorce was filed in another county or state, you must search the records in that county or state.
Adoptions and Termination of Parental Rights
The Clerk’s Office is responsible for processing all adoptions in Broward County. We ensure that all paperwork is filed with the appropriate department and adhere to strict confidentiality laws.
The Clerk's Office is prohibited from offering legal advice regarding adoptions. Please refer any adoption questions to your attorney or adoption agency.
All records of adoption are confidential and exempt from the provisions of Section 119.07 (1) Florida Statutes, except as provided in Section 63.162 F.S. A court order is required to allow access to an adoption file.
Adoption is the creation of a parent-child relationship by judicial order between two parties who usually are unrelated. This relationship is bought about only after a determination that the child is an orphan or has been abandoned, or that the parent’s parental rights have been terminated by court order.
Termination of Parental Rights is the legal severing of a parent’s s rights, privileges, and responsibilities regarding his or her child. Termination of a parent’s rights frees the child to be adopted by someone else.
Filing for Divorce
Parties may be required to comply with AO-2019-15-UFC - Adopting and Authorizing the Use of a Status Quo Temporary Order in Dissolution of Marriage and Paternity Actions.
Dissolution of Marriage is the legal term for divorce.
Simplified Dissolution of Marriage
Parties can file for a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage if the following applies:
- At least one of the spouses has lived in Florida for the past six months;
- The parties agree that the marriage cannot be saved;
- The parties do not have any minor or dependent children together, the wife does not have any minor or dependent children who were born during the marriage, and the wife is not now pregnant;
- The parties have made satisfactory division of their property and have agreed as to payment of their joint obligations;
- Neither party is seeking support (alimony) from the other spouse;
- You are willing to give up your right to trial and appeal and
- All other facts set forth in Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.901(a) Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage are true.
Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children
A married couple may file for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children if you and your spouse have a dependent or minor child(ren) together, or if either spouse is pregnant. At least one of the spouses must have lived in Florida for the past six months.
For Dissolution of Marriage with Children, the parties shall separately attend a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course. The parties shall be responsible for the fees for the course. Each party is responsible for immediately filing his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file.
Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Provider list - As required by Florida Statute 61.21, and referenced in AO-2019-15-UFC - Adopting and Authorizing the Use of a Status Quo Temporary Order in Dissolution of Marriage and Paternity Actions, a list of approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers can be found at MyFLFamilies.com.
Dissolution of Marriage with No Children
Parties may file for a Dissolution of Marriage with no Children when a husband or wife is filing for a dissolution of marriage, and the husband and wife have marital assets and/or marital liabilities but the parties do not have any minor or dependent children together, the wife does not have any minor or dependent children who were born during the marriage, and the wife is not now pregnant. At least one of the spouses has lived in Florida for the past six months.
Dissolution of Marriage with No Children and No Property
Parties may file for a Dissolution of Marriage with no Children and No Property when a husband or wife is filing for a dissolution of marriage, and the husband and wife have no marital assets and/or marital liabilities and the parties do not have any minor or dependent children together, the wife does not have any minor or dependent children who were born during the marriage, and the wife is not now pregnant. At least one of the spouses has lived in Florida for the past six months.
Name Change
A Name Change can be filed for an individual, minor, adult, or family.
Electronic Fingerprinting Process
According to chapter 68.07 of the Florida Statutes, a petitioner must have fingerprints taken electronically by an authorized agency prior to a court hearing on a request for a change of name. The prints are submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for a state criminal history records check and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history records check. The results are submitted by the FDLE to the Clerk & Comptroller’s office. The court uses the results to review the information filed by the petitioner and to evaluate whether to grant the petition.
- Dissolution of marriage or Adoption of Children: A records check is not required to restore a former name or for changes of name in proceedings.
- Minor's Name Change: The representing Adult Fingerprints are required and not the minor.
Miscellaneous Fingerprint Information:
- The Origination Agency Identification Number (ORI) for Broward County is FL923570Z
- Contact the Clerk’s Office
- 954-831-5792
For more information, refer to Florida Statute 68.07.
Paternity
Any woman who is pregnant or has a child, any man who has reason to believe that he is the father of a child, or any child may bring proceedings in the circuit court to determine the paternity of the child when paternity has not been established by law or otherwise.
- The proceedings must be in the circuit court where the petitioner resides or the county where the respondent resides.
- The court shall determine the issues of paternity and ability to support the child.
- Other fees or costs, such as medical, hospital/childbirth expenses, or attorney fees, may be awarded.
- The court may order an appropriate parenting plan and time-sharing schedule.
Parties may be required to submit to scientific testing to show a probability of paternity. For more information, refer to Florida Statute 742.12.
Parties may be required to comply with AO-2019-15-UFC - Adopting and Authorizing the Use of a Status Quo Temporary Order in Dissolution of Marriage and Paternity Actions
Forms and Self Help
The Clerk’s Office is unable to provide legal advice or assistance.
To assist you, below you will find forms and legal resources. For further assistance, please visit the Self Help Equal Access Center - Law Library, where Law Librarians are available to assist you in locating forms and legal resources.
SELF HELP EQUAL ACCESS CENTER - Law Library
- Self Help Equal Access Center - Law Library
Central Courthouse
Judicial Complex, North Wing -
1st Floor, Room: 1800
201 S.E. 6th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Directions to this Location
954-831-6226-
Monday - Friday
7:30 am - 3:30 pm
Excluding Courthouse Holidays
Visit our Law Library located on the first floor of the North Wing of the Courthouse to find:
- Additional forms including Family, Landlord/Tenant, Criminal, Probate and Guardianship, Traffic, and much more
- Photocopy machines, computers, and Wi-Fi
- Print materials, online databases and resources, self-help publications, Westlaw and Lexis
- Comfortable, quiet work areas
- Law Librarians available to direct you to resources related to your legal information needs
Fees and Costs
| VALID FORMS OF PAYMENT — Cash, Cashier’s Check, Money Order, Attorney's Check, or American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa credit cards. (Proper identification is required when paying in person by credit card.) NO PERSONAL CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED. ATTENTION ATTORNEYS — Attorney’s trust account checks must be imprinted with the words “Trust Account” or “IOLTA”. Pursuant to F.S. 57.082 - Determination of civil indigent status. If you qualify for civil indigence, the filing, and summons fees are waived; other cost and fees may not be waived. If you are determined not to be indigent, fees are due at the time of filing. | |
Family Filing Fees | |
| Adoptions and Termination of Parental Rights | $442.00 |
| Dissolution/Annulment Marriage | $409.00 |
| Family Actions Under Florida Statutes Ch. 742, 752, and 753 | $301.00 |
| For the filing of any counter petition/domestic relations | $295.00 |
| Modification of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage | $50.00 |
| Name Change | $401.00 |
| Circuit and Family New Case (Other than an action for real property or an action under Florida statutes Ch. 39,61, 742, and 753) Actions over $15,000.00 | $401.00 |
| Re-Open Fee (fee charged for each pleading filed in a “closed case” which requires Judicial action) | $50.00 |
| Issuance of a summons, per summons | $10.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
I would like a copy of my adoption case. Is this possible?
Adoptions and Dependencies are protected cases, and thus are not open for public inspection. If you are an adoptee, with proper identification, you may obtain a copy of your final judgment. With proper identification, your adoptive parents and attorney(s) of record may obtain copies of all documents filed in your adoption file. Biological parents must obtain a court order for access to adoption files.
How do I go about setting a court hearing in my Domestic Relations case?
The procedure for setting a court hearing varies, depending upon whether you are represented by an attorney, or you are a “pro se” or self-represented litigant. If you are represented by legal counsel, your attorney will set any necessary court hearings for you by contacting the judge’s office. If you represent yourself in a domestic matter, all hearings will be scheduled through the Court’s Case Management Division.
Glossary of Terms
| Answer | A response to a question, a pleading, or a discovery request. |
| Appeal | A proceeding undertaken to have a decision reconsidered by a higher authority; esp., the submission of a lower court’s or agency’s decision to a higher court for review and possible reversal. |
| Asset | An item that is owned and has value. The entries on a balance sheet showing the items of property owned, including cash, inventory, equipment, real estate, accounts receivable, and goodwill. |
| Certificate of Service | A section of a pleading or motion filed with the court, usually separately on the last page, in which the party filing the pleading or motion certifies to the court that a copy has been mailed to or otherwise served on all other parties. |
| Certified Copy | A duplicate of an original document, certified as an exact reproduction by the officer responsible for issuing or keeping the original. |
| Certified Mail | Mail for which the sender requests proof of delivery in the form of a receipt signed by the addressee. |
| Child Support | A parent’s legal obligation to contribute to the economic maintenance and education of a child until the age of majority, the child’s emancipation before reaching majority, or the child’s completion of secondary education. |
| Child Support Guidelines | The basis on which child support is awarded. |
| Constructive Service | Service accomplished by a method or circumstance that does not give actual notice. |
| Contempt | The act or state of despising; the condition of being despised or conduct that defies the authority or dignity of a court or legislature. |
| Contested | To deny an adverse claim or assert a defense to it in a court proceeding. |
| Contingent Asset | An asset that you may receive or get later, such as income, tax refund, accrued vacation or sick leave, a bonus, or an inheritance. |
| Contingent Liability | A liability that will occur only if a specific event happens; a liability that depends on the occurrence of a future and uncertain event. |
| Counter Petition | A petition for relief asserted against an opposing party after an original petition has been made. |
| Default | A failure of a party to respond to the pleading of another party. This failure to respond may allow the court to decide the case without input from the party who did not appear or respond. |
| Delinquent | Failure to perform an obligation; past due of unperformed. |
| Dependent Child(ren) | Child(ren) who depend on their parent(s) for support either because they are under the age of 18, they have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from supporting themselves, or they are in high school while between the ages of 18 and 19 and are performing in good faith with reasonable expectation of graduation before the age of 19. |
| Dissolution of Marriage | An action which terminates the marriage of the parties by the entry of a final judgment. |
| Enjoined | To legally prohibit or restrain by injunction. |
| Ex Parte | On or from one party only without notice to or argument from the adverse party. |
| Filing | Delivering a petition, response, motion, or other pleading in a court case to the clerk of court’s office. |
| Filing Fee | An amount of money, set by law, that the petitioner must pay when filing a case. |
| Final Hearing | Trial in your case. |
| Financial Affidavit | A sworn statement that contains information regarding income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. |
| Final Judgment | A courts last action that settles the rights of the parties and disposes of all issues in controversy, except for the award of costs and enforcement of the judgment. |
| Guardian ad Litem | A neutral person who may be appointed by the court to evaluate or investigate your child’s situation, and file a report with the court about what is in the best interests of your child(ren). Guardians do not “work for” either party. The guardian may interview the parties, visit their homes, visit the child(ren)’s school(s) and speak with teachers, or use other resources to make their recommendation. |
| Hearing | A legal proceeding before a judge or designated officer (general master or hearing officer) on a motion. |
| Liabilities | Everything owed by you or your spouse, including mortgages, credit cards, or car loans. A liability may be marital or nonmarital, but that distinction is for the court to determine if you and your spouse do not agree." |
| Lump Sum Alimony | Money ordered to be paid by one spouse to another in a limited number of payments, often a single payment. |
| Mandatory Disclosure | Items that must be disclosed by both parties except those exempted from disclosure by Florida Family Law Rule 12.285. |
| Marital Asset | Generally, anything that you and/or your spouse acquired or received (by gift or purchase) during the marriage. For example, something you owned before your marriage may be non-marital. An asset may only be determined to be marital by agreement of the parties or determination of the judge. |
| Marital Liability | Generally, any debt that you and/or your spouse incurred during the marriage. A debt may only be determined to be nonmarital by agreement of the parties or determination of the judge. |
| Mediation | A method of nonbinding dispute resolution involving a neutral third party who tries to help the disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable solution. |
| Mediator | A person who is trained and certified to assist parties in reaching an agreement before going to court. Mediators do not take either party’s side and are not allowed to give legal advice. They are only responsible for helping the parties reach an agreement and putting that agreement into writing. In some areas, mediation of certain family law cases may be required before going to court. |
| Modification | A change made by the court in an order or final judgment. |
| Motion | A request made to the court, other than a petition. |
| No Contact | A court order directing a party not speak to, call, send mail to, visit, or go near his or her spouse, ex-spouse, child(ren), or other family member. |
| Non-lawyer | A person who is not a member in good standing of The Florida Bar. |
| Non-marital Asset | Generally, anything owned separately by you or your spouse. An asset may only be determined to be nonmarital by either agreement of the parties or determination of the judge. |
| Non-marital Liability | Generally, any debt that you or your spouse incurred before your marriage or since your separation. A debt may only be determined to be non-marital by either agreement of the parties or determination of the judge. |
| Nonparty | A person who is not the petitioner or respondent in a court case. |
| Notary Public | A person authorized to witness signatures on court related forms. |
| Obligee | A person to whom money, such as child support or alimony, is owed. |
| Obligor | A person who is ordered by the court to pay money, such as child support or alimony. |
| Parenting Course | A class that teaches parents how to help their child(ren) cope with divorce and other family issues. |
| Parenting Plan | Florida Statute 61.046(13): "a document to govern the relationship between the parties relating to the decisions that must be made regarding the minor child and shall contain a time-sharing schedule for the parents and child. The issues concerning the minor child may include, but are not limited to, the child's education, health care, and physical, social, and emotional well-being. In creating the plan, all circumstances between the parties, including the parties' historic relationship, domestic violence, and other factors must be taken into consideration. The parenting plan shall be developed and agreed to by the parents and approved by a court or, if the parents cannot agree, established by the court." |
| Party | A person involved in a court case, either as a petitioner or respondent. |
| Paternity Action | A lawsuit used to determine whether a designated individual is the father of a specific child or children. |
| Payor | An employer or other person who provides income to an obligor. |
| Permanent Alimony | Spousal support ordered to be paid at a specified, periodic rate until modified by a court order, the death of either party, or the remarriage of the Obligee, whichever occurs first. |
| Personal Service | When a summons and a copy of a petition (or other pleading) that has been filed with the court are delivered by a deputy sheriff or private process server to the other party. Personal service is required for all petitions and supplemental petitions. |
| Petition | A written request to the court for legal action, which begins a court case. |
| Petitioner | A party who presents a petition to a court when seeking relief. |
| Primary Residence | The home in which the child(ren) spends most of his/her (their) time. |
| Pro Se Litigant | A person represents themselves in court without the assistance of a lawyer. |
| Reasonable Visitation | Visitation between the nonresidential parent and child(ren) that provides frequent and unhampered contact with the child(ren). Such visitation is designed to encourage a close and continuing relationship with due regard for educational commitments of child(ren), any health or social factors of the child(ren), business and personal commitments of both parents, and home arrangements of both parents. |
| Rehabilitative Alimony | Spousal support ordered to be paid for a limited period of time to allow one of the parties an opportunity to complete a plan of education or training, according to a rehabilitative plan accepted by the court, so that he or she may better support himself or herself. |
| Respondent | The party against whom a motion or petition is filed. |
| Rotating Custody | Physical custody of child(ren) after divorce, which is alternated between the mother and father at specified periods of time, as determined by the court. Rotating custody allows each parent equal time with the child(ren). |
| Scientific Paternity Testing | A medical test to determine who is the father of a child. |
| Secondary Residential Responsibility (Visitation) | The time that the parent with whom the child(ren) does (do) not have primary residence spends with the child(ren). |
| Service | The delivery of legal documents to a party. This must be accomplished as directed by Florida Family Law Rules 12.070 and 12.080. |
| Shared Parental Responsibility | An arrangement under which both parents have full parental rights and responsibilities for their child(ren), and the parents make major decisions affecting the welfare of the child(ren) jointly. Shared Parental Responsibility is presumptive in Florida. |
| Sole Parental Responsibility | A parenting arrangement under which the responsibility for the minor child(ren) is given to one parent by the court, with or without rights of visitation to the other parent. |
| Specified Visitation | A parenting arrangement under which a specific schedule is established for the visitation and exchange of the child(ren). |
| Spouse | A husband or wife. |
| Subpoena | A form requiring a witness to appear in court or at a deposition and could include a demand for the production of documents. |
| Supervised Visitation | A parenting arrangement under which visitation between a parent and his or her child(ren) is supervised by either a friend, family member, or a supervised visitation center. |
| Supplemental Petition | A petition that may be filed by either party after the judge has made a decision in a case and a final judgment or order has been entered. For example, a supplemental petition may be used to request that the court modify the previously entered final judgment or order. |
| Time Sharing Schedule | A timetable that must be included in the parenting plan that specifies the time, including overnights and holidays that a minor child will spend with each parent. If developed and agreed to by the parents of a minor child, it must be approved by the court. If the parents cannot agree, the schedule shall be established by the court. |
| Trial | The final hearing in a contested case. |
| Uncontested | Any and all issues on which the parties are able to agree and which are part of a marital settlement agreement. |